Towyn-on-Sea and Merioneth County Times

TOWYN INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL. DISTRIBUTION OF PRIZES & CERTIFICATES PRINCIPAL T. F. ROBERTS, M.A., ON WELSH EDUCATION. On Thursday evening the Assembly Rooms pre- sented a brilliant appearance on the occasion of the seventh annual entertainment given by the pupils of the County School. These concerts are becom- ing more popular every year. This year the presence of Principal Roberts, to deliver an address, and the remarkable success of the school during the year, must have attracted many to the meeting. Mr H Hall, (Mr Corbett's agent), had been asked to preside, but he wrote that he had arranged various appointments for the evening, which quite prevented him from accepting the invitation. Had it not been for this, he would have been very pleased to be present. Mr J Maethlon James was called upon to fill the gap, which he did very efficiently. He said that it was a source of great pleasure to him to see that unmistakeable sign of the deep interest which was taken in the school by the inhabitants of the district. The presence of so many friends on that occasion would encourage the children, woald stimulate the teachers, and make the hearts of the members of the Governing Body rejoice, for nothing could give greater satisfaction to those who were doing their best in their respective capaci- ties than to know that their efforts to do well were being appreciated (applause). The Governors and teachers of the school had been able to report satisfactory progress at the end of each year since the establishment of the Towyn County School, and he believed they would all agree with him in regard to this year's successes, which would be read pre- sently, that at no time in the history of the school had they been able to report such brilliant examples of successes achieved by the scholars, some of whom would be rewarded that evening. The school was able with its present staff of teachers and general equipment to do still higher and greater work in the future (applause). He would take the liberty to make the following quotation from the Central Welsh Board's report: — The school seemed to be exceedingly well organised through- out. I observed a tendency on the part of the pupils to stay on at school for higher work. It was felt that another assistant teacher to take up higher work in classics and literature was required. There was evidently a demand for higher work, but, in order to meet that demand successfully, the Governors would require something like £ 100 a year in addition to their present income. It is to be hoped that the upward march of the school will not be checked through lack of funds." Those who bad ears to hear let them hear," or in other words let those who had money to give, give it to- wards carrying on this work. He (the Chairman) had before him a long list of successes obtained during the year. It showed that a large percentage of the scholars bad distinguished themselves in one thing or another, but that was not all the good work which the school could boast of. There were scores of children turned out to the world from this establishment already who had not excelled in any particular subject, but still had obtained sufficient sound and substantial education to fit them to fight the great battle of life (applause). The Inspector of the Central Board bad anticipated his speech that evenirg, and he (the Chairman) took the liberty of making a quotation from the report: It is especially characteristic of this school, as was remarked in last year's report, that a high standard is attained not merely by a few bur. oy .11. Tiiin fs -(,t", nest testimonial to the efficient character of the teaching." He (the Chairman) was pleased to say that while there was every encouragement given at the school for bright pupils to succeed there was also the greatest care taken with those who could not distinguish themselves. Much good work was passed unrewarded at school, but which would not fail to be a source of help and happinness to the pupils when established in some calling or station in life. The first part 0f the programme was then gone through as follows :—Pianoforte solo, Misses M Richards and J Edwards; chorus, The Indian Maid," School Choir, under the conductorship of Miss May Roberts; pianoforte solo, Miss Martha J Jones; action song, The British Flag," Pupils of the School. DISTRIBUTION OF CERTIFICATES. Principal Roberts distributed the prizes as fol- lows :-Inter-Bachelor of Science (London), John Hughes and Wm Roberts. London Matriculation Examination (first division) and Senior Certificate Central Welsh Board, Miss Lizzie W Richards, David J Roberts, Edward Jones and Taliesyn Ed- wards. Senior Certificates, Annie C Pugh, Maggie Owen, Winifred Conn, Ellen J Roberts, and Hum- phrey Hughes. Form III, Junior Certificate, Annie M Evans (chemistry), Martha J Jones (domestic economy and arithmetic), Mary E Owen (geomet- rical drawing and botany), Margaret Richards (French), R W James (mathematics, history and English), J R Edwards (physics), W E Jones (drawing), Laura Jones (needlework) and L H Roberts (woodwork). The above did exceptionally well in the subjects for which the prizes were awarded. Prize winners in last year's Form II: H G Baxter with distinctions in history, chemistry, physics and Latin Charlotte Evans, geometry, French, cookery and domestic economy, and mathe- matics Agnes Doig, needlework and English; Owen Owen, woodwork and drawing. Form I Rosa M Davies, arithmetic and English; Jennie Edwards, history T H Roberts, geography Myfanwy Foulkes, Scripture and cookery; Trevor Jones, drawing. Form IV: Queen's prize for special excellence in physics given to John Hughes. The Central Welsh Board's Certificates were awarded as follows Junior Certificates, Annie M Evans, Wm H Lewis, Mary E Owen John R Edwards, with distinctions in physics and chemistry; Richard W James, with distinctions in physics, chemistry, history and mathematics; Annie PRees, with distinctions in chemistry and cookery Martha J Jones, with distinctions in mathematics and cookery; Margt Richards, with distinction in cookery. Senior Certificates Central Welsh Board, which are recognised as equivalent to the Welsh Matriculation: Winifred Conn, with distinctions in Latin, French, chemistry and botany; Maggie Owen, with dis- tinctions in chemistry and botany; Ellen Jane Roberts, with distinctions in English Lizzie Wynne Richards, with distinctions in Latin, French, history, English and English literature; Annie C Pughe, with distinctions in general science, Latin, French, botany and English literature; Edward Jones, with distinctions in Latin, chemistry (honours), and physics; Taliesyn Edwards, with distinctions in mathematics, chemistry and physics; Humphrey Hughes, with distinctions in chemistry John Mornant Hughes, with distinctions in mathe- matics, chemistry (honours), mechanics, physics (honours), and English; David James Roberts, with distinctions in Latin, French, history, chemistry (honours), physics and English. Inorganic chemis- try (theoretical advanced) David James Roberts and William Roberts, first class; Taliesyn Edwards and Humphrey Hughes, second class. Inorganic chemistry (practical), advanced stage: William Roberts and Taliesyn Edwards, second class. Mag- netism and electricity John Hughes and William Roberts, first class. Mechanics (solids, advanced): John Hughes and William Roberts, second class. Heat (advanced) John Hughes and William Roberts, second class. Mathematics (Stage II) John Hughes, William Roberts, and D J Roberts, first class; Edward Jones and Taliesyn Edwards, second class. Mechanics (elementary) D J Roberts first class. Mathematics (Stage II): Annie M Evans, first class Winifred Conn, first class. Mor- ganic chemistry (elementary, theoretical) John 0 Jones, H D Humphreys, Maggie Owen, Winifred Conn, H W Edwards, Rowland Davies and W E Jones, all first class. Inorganic chemistry (practical, elementary): John 0 Jones, W Lewis Hughes, Winifred Conn, Rowland Davies and H W Edwards, all first class. Botany (elementary) Maggie Owen, Winifred Conn and A C Pughe, all first class. The special certificate, awarded by the Science and Art Department for general excellence, had been won by John Hughes. Local school examination of the Associated Board of the Royal Academy of Music Margaret Richards, lower division Jennie Edwards, preparatory grade; and Laura Jones, preparatory grade with distinction. PRINCIPAL ROBERTS' SPEECH. Principal Roberts next addressed the meeting and said Now that I have got to the conclusion of my very pleasant, although I must say arduous, task, I wish for a few minutes to make some re- marks upon the significance of what has just taken place. The chairman had already in his opening address called attention to the report of the Central Welsh Board which has just been published and to the evidence that it contained as to the excellence of the work done in this school. If you place side by side the results of the various examinations, as represented in the certificates which have just been awarded, and the report of the Central Welsh Board, which goes into detail upon these questions, I believe you will come to the conclusion that any school might be very proud of having done the work this school has done during the past year (applause). I, personally, as one born in this district, and as one educated in the school which led up to this school, am very proud of the Towyn County School—(loud applause)-and I am not only proud of the enthusiasm which has been dis- played in its behalf by the members of the Govern- ing Body and by the inhabitants of Towyn and district. In the report it is stated that no less a sum than C80 per annum is awarded in scholarships which are entirely the fruit of private liberality. That in itself is part of the secret, I think, of the success of the school—(applause)—not the value of the scholarships so much as the indication that the inhabitants of the district are in earnest about the school. Another matter mentioned by you, Mr Chairman, from the report, was the necessity for an addition to the staff of the school in order to enable it to doJLcst-oiass work in literature as well as in science. I am delighted that since the report was prepared the school has been strengthened still further on this side through the most generous aid of Mr John Corbett, who has nobly contributed JE100 per annum for a period of years towards the appointment of an additional assistant master. I have seen in the papers that it is your intention in some way to honour Mr Corbett by some visible mark of the interest he has taken in the school. I think you cannot do anything more befitting. I know from the help he has given the school that his heart is in the success of the Towyn County School—(applause)—and that in honouring him for what he has done you are also honouring yourselves (hear, hear). I am also glad that this important post which you have been enabled to fill has been entrusted to one of my old pupils-Mr Derry Evans -and I think it but right to say that, while his appointment to a post in this school is an honour to him, I am of opinion that this school is also to be congratulated on obtaining his services. He is one of the ablest of the students who have studied at Aberystwyth within recent years, and I believe him to be as earnest as he is capable, and to be animated with. a patriotic desire to serve the cause of education. I have no doubt the teaching staff, thus strengthened, will be able to carry on its advanced work on the literary as well as on the scientific side without any risk to the instruction given throughout the lower forms. In attempting to combine a high standard in the experimental sciences the school authorities, are obeying a true educational instinct in accord with what I may call the Cymric ideal of culture. The school is an organised science school," but it has already out- grown that title, and that because the title repre- sents an inadequate conception of education. If the Governors had been obliged by the lack of the necessary resources to narrow down the teaching to the limits suggested by this term, it would have been a loss too dearly purchased even by its efficiency as a place of scientific instruction. A modern instruction is impossible without science. The influence of science is making itself most beneficially felt on the methods of teaching in every other subject and department of knowledge. At the same time the scientific investigation and exposition of nature's laws needs to be constantly supplemented by contact with the ideals of history and literature. Otherwise freedom and individuality are endangered, and an enlightened self-interest threatens to become the governing rule of life. Against that result of the one-sided edu- cation the combination, the rounded idea of culture that you are aiming at, is I think a great and suffi- cient protection. I do not purpose to enter into the profound social and educational issues thus suggested to our minis, but, on the eve of a new century, it is perhaps not unfitting to call attention to some of the deeper influences which the pupils of these schools will carry with them into the uncer- tain future from the great historic past of Wales. Two noteworthy Welsh books, which have recently appeared, may be cited as symbolical of the higher things after which Welsh life has been struggling. One of them is a history of Greek Philosophy by Dr Llugwy Owen, telling in natural and vigorous Welsh the story of the contribution of Greece to the shaping of human thought. The other is an edition of the works of the puritan and mystic Morgan Lloyd, prepared under such pathetic circumstances by our late friend, Mr Thomas Ellis, The higher life of Wales in this century has been attempted to reach to the ideal of a perfect cultivation of the mutual powers of man, to fit him for a life of rich and many sided activity in the society of his fellow men, and in the other, the ideal of a hidden life which lives and moves amid the realities of the unseen world. It is the faith of Wales that these two ideals are fundamentally at one. With such a conviction has Wales created for herself a complete and rounded scheme of education. She asks for scientific truth and precision, for prac- tical efficiency and dexterity, and for artistic pro- portions and beauty, but she asks above all for room for her ideals to live and breathe and to re- new the life of her sons with power to transcend the limits of self and circumstances into the free- dom and fellowship of the unseen and the eternal. There can be no fear that young men and young women endowed with ability, and educated in true loyalty to this pattern, will fail to gain and to fill a noble and worthy part in life, whether at home or abroad. A keen observer of Welsh life, who, although not a Welshman, is at the same time one of the best friends that Wales has ever had, has lately said, Wales has a root of conscience, a spring of heart which I love. I want to see Wales take her right place in the joint life of the great house- hold. If she will know herself and take her due place there is both glory for her and gain for us all in store." I hope and believe that Towyn School is destined to play no small part towards realising this great forecast. To contribute towards it even in some measure is an object worthy of the best efforts of the teachers and scholars, and will form their truest and most enduring distinction (loud applause). The second part of the programme included a pianoforte solo by Miss Margaret Richards; action song, The Fisher Girls," by a number of the female pupils. A solo and chorus, A jovial monk am I," Master J Owen and school choir; action song, "The tailor's song," by the boys; chorus, Good bye, beloved." All these items were accorded well-merited rounds of applause. Mr W Roberts, Bryncrug, proposed a vote of thanks to Principal Roberts for distributing the prizes and certificates and for his admirable address. Mr Samuel Edmunds, Manchester House, briefly seconded the proposition, which was carried. Principal Roberts appropriately responded, and moved a vote of thanks to the Chairman for pre- siding. Mr Haydn Jones seconded the proposition, which was unanimously carried. The rendering of the Welsh National Anthem brought the proceedings to a close. Miss May Roberts was the efficient accompanist. — ep